Improvement in rivets



PATENT QFFIGE.

MELLEN BRAY, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN RIVET S.

Specification forming part of letters Patent No. 157,116, dated November 24, 1874 application filed September 9, 1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELLEN BRAY, of Newton, Massachusetts, have invented an Improved ltivet, of which the following is a specification:

The object of the invention is to make and use a hollow rivet which cuts its own path through the material to be riveted.

The rivets heretofore in use have been the solid-wire rivet requiring a burr or washer for the second head to secure it in the material riveted, the wire rivet countersunk at the point, so that it may be expanded or spread open to the depth of the recess by a blow of a hammer to form the second head, and a 1101- low rivet made by drawing up a tube from sheet metal substantially as set forth in Letters Patent to me dated July 15, 1873, the second head of which is formed by breaking down the walls of the tube with a hammer. Each of these rivets, however, required the previous use of a separate instrum ent to make for it a path in the material to be riveted.

My improved rivet cuts its own way, and the time required by the use of a separate punch in setting the rivets is thereby saved.

I make my improved rivet from a blank of iron wire by upsetting the true head to the required size, and then so drilling out the end opposite the head that the walls of the tube formed thereby shall have a sufficiently sharp edge and the requisite strength and depth to cut through the material to be riveted, and retain within the walls that portion of the ma terial which is out out.

In the drawings hereto annexed as a pat of this specification, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of my improved rivet. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the same, a, forced through a piece of leather, 1), and having the second head broken down. b is the portion of leather cut out and retained within the walls of the rivet.

This rivet is an improvement upon the rivet described in my patent before referred to. Like the rivet of that patent, when inserted in the material to be riveted its second head can be readily formed by breaking down the tube to any depth accordingly as the material riveted is thick or thin; but, unlike my former rivet, this rivet has a cutting-edge. The old rivet required the use of a punch.

To set this rivet it is placed upon its head and the material to be riveted is placed upon the end of the tube, when a blow upon the material causes the rivet to out through the material, and, at the same time, forms the second head. With material of ordinary thickness the rivet retains within the walls' of the tube all the layers of material cut out as a core, and this gives a peculiar smooth finish to the work, particularly desirable in some instances, and, at the same time, a strengthening finish, by supporting the walls of the rivet.

I claim- The improved rivet herein described, constructed with a tubular body extending to the head, and having a cutting extremity, for the purpose set forth.

MELLEN BRAY.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. SWAN, OHAs. H. SWAN. 

